House Proceeding 02-25-09 on Feb 25th, 2009 :: 0:54:35 to 1:09:44
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0:52:40 to 0:54:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Charles W. Dent

0:54:25 to 0:54:35( Edit History Discussion )

Charles W. Dent: that the minority should be constructive and the majority should be inclusive, and that is not what is occurring with respect to this omnibus appropriations act. i'm disappointed.

0:54:36 to 0:55:00( Edit History Discussion )

Pete Sessions: and i inte to vote for the rule, because it would eliminate the pay raise and that's a good thing, but we to get back to regular order. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from massachusett the gentleman from texas, for what purpose does do you rise? mr. sessions: mr. speaker -- the speaker pro tempore: the

0:54:40 to 0:57:15( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Pete Sessions

0:55:01 to 0:55:24( Edit History Discussion )

Pete Sessions: mr. sessions: mr. flake had it right this morning when he said this bill is heavy, and it is. and this is the bill that we are getting ready to pass, hundreds of billions of more dollars that will be taken from the american people that we are borrowing this money.

0:55:25 to 0:55:46( Edit History Discussion )

Pete Sessions: ju last week, we passed a bill that was twice this size, all borrowed money. this is a bill that by and large was put together last june and ready to go. we are now five full months through the fiscal year

0:55:47 to 0:56:07( Edit History Discussion )

Pete Sessions: we decided to go ahead and do the exact same bill in the remaing seven months. 8% increase -- if we have 12 months, now we've got seven months left, all borrowed time,

0:56:08 to 0:56:29( Edit History Discussion )

Pete Sessions: all borrowed money. all for a system that now, months later, is under greater distress. the american family, the american taxpayer, american business, even investors to this great country li

0:56:30 to 0:56:51( Edit History Discussion )

Pete Sessions: have heard the gentleman, mr. kirk, talk about, investors, people who will pay for this debt, are growing weary of bigger and bigger gov more and more spending. and i do recognize that we disagree with each other on the floor based upon party lines.

0:56:52 to 0:57:16( Edit History Discussion )

Pete Sessions: but at some point, there has to be a reality check and the reality check is that since we decided to wait alst half a year, why not cut it in half? makes sense to me. perhaps that's common sense.

0:57:17 to 0:57:37( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: perhaps it's just political goings on. today, we are going to cram down an 8.5% increase. . the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: i recognized the gentleman from washington, mr. dicks, for two minutes.

0:57:35 to 1:01:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Norman D. Dicks

0:57:38 to 0:57:59( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from washington is recognized for two minutes. mr. sessions: mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from washington is recognized for two minutes. mr. dicks: mr. speaker, i want to specifically address the question -- excuse me. mr. speaker, i rise in strong support of the omnibus appropriations act and the rule currently being debate in the

0:58:00 to 0:58:21( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: house. divisionee of this bill provides $26.6 billion under interior and environmental subcommittee. this is a modest increase of about 4.5% over the 2008 funding level. these funds are critically need to support the core activities of agencies which serve every american family and

0:58:22 to 0:58:43( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: this country. these agencies include the national fashion service, the u.s. fish and wildlife refuge system and the national forest system. these land management agencies manage over more than 600 million acres of publicly owned land and host more than 200 million visitors every year. the bill also funds the indian

0:58:44 to 0:59:05( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: health service and the bureau of indian affairs, provide education, law enforcement, health services for four million native americans. it includes the money to support the staff of the department of interior, which develops the offshore and land-based energy resourced of this -- sources of this country. these energy-related programs

0:59:06 to 0:59:26( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: generate over $20 billion of revenue for the federal treasury every year. it includes money for the e.p.a. to support environmental protection activity in every congressional district affecting every single american family. mr. speaker, i want to specifically address the question raisederedier as to why we need this -- raised

0:59:27 to 0:59:47( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: earlier as to why we need this omnibus spending since we had the stimulus bill signed last week. the basic answer is stimulus legislation provides sfendfunding for infrastructure projects at these agencies. in particular, funding to address the long-standing and well-documented maintenance backlogs. the omnibus bill we are considering today supports the

0:59:48 to 1:00:08( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: operational cost of these agencies. the recovery bill pays to repair indian schools. the bill -- this bill pays for the teachers. the recovery provides funds to fix dilap dated indian hospitals. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. dicks: can i get one minute?

1:00:09 to 1:00:32( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. dicks: it provides purchase of needed medical equipment. it pays for the doctors, dentists and nurses. the recovery bill will improve the roads, bridges, trails and visitor services facilitiesf our parks, rugees and services. it provides help for the park rangers.

1:00:33 to 1:00:53( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: the recovery bill will repair, rehabilitate and build water systems in over 500 communities. the omnibus bill includes funding to support efforts to protect public health by enforcing law to ensure our air is fresh, our water is safe and that our families are exposed to not -- not exposed to dangerous toxics. i would like to ask unanimous

1:00:54 to 1:01:01( Edit History Discussion )

Norman D. Dicks: consent to put the rest of my statement in the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. chairman obey for bringing this

1:01:02 to 1:01:23( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: bill badly needed by the american people. these are important programs, and i appreciate his leadership on this bill. and the sfaff of the committee as well. -- staff of the committee as well. the speake time of the gentleman has expired. the gentleman from texas, for what purpose do you lies? mr. sessions: i'd like to yield a minute and a half to the distinguished gentleman from

1:01:05 to 1:02:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Dan Burton

1:01:24 to 1:01:44( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: india. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for 1 1/2 minutes. mr. burton: last night here in the well the president said there were no pork barrel projects in this bill. and now we find out there are over 9,000 pork barrel some people in the other chamber said the american people don't care about those pork barrel projects. i think they do and i think the american people care about our

1:01:45 to 1:02:05( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: kids. we're stealing from our children and the future generations. and let me just tell you why i say that. we spent $700 billion on the tarp bill. we don't even know where half of that money went. $350 billion. we spent $14 billion on the auto industry. that there wasn't even a plan. if they're going to -- if there was a plan it would have been a

1:02:06 to 1:02:26( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: different situation. we spent $47 billion in interest on the stimulus bill and we don't know if that's going to work. and we have these 9,000 pork barrel projects that are in this bill which is $408 billion. you add all that up plus the national health care which the president said we're going to have to have here very quickly and you don't have any idea how

1:02:27 to 1:02:49( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: much money we're talking about. mr. geithner said $800 billion will help bail out the financial institutions. you add that up and it's an astronomical printing of money and borrowing money and we don't have it. we're borrowing from our kids and future generations. on top of all that the president said he would cut the

1:02:50 to 1:02:55( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: deficit in half in four years. that is not possible. it is just not possible. and i just hope the american

1:02:56 to 1:03:17( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: people are paying attention, mr. speaker, because we're playing with funny money in this place and we're hurting the future generations of this country. time the time of the gentleman has expired -- the time of the gentleman has expired. who seeks recognition? the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: i yield to mr. blumenauer.

1:03:00 to 1:05:45( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Earl Blumenauer

1:03:18 to 1:03:40( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. blumenauer: we heard about funny money. we didn't hear the last administration that turned a $5 trillion surplus into a massive budget deficit. and if he would hav to the president last night he would have heard that the president said the economic recovery package had no earmarks.

1:03:41 to 1:04:01( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: now, even though this has 1/4 of the earmarks that the previous crew had when they ran the place, the president wasn't talking about that. he was talking about the economic stimulus. well, i appreciate the hard work of the committee in bringing this forward. as we know, this work was largely done last year but we had a president that was

1:04:02 to 1:04:23( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: running out the clock. he wouldn't work with the committee to deal with what our established budget resolution was. he wanted more draconian cuts. the committee wisely sidestepped that, moved forward with a new congress and a new administration. this $410 billion package works

1:04:24 to 1:04:45( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: in harmony with the economic recovery package. and i am pleased that it refocuses on the pieces that matter. i've got here that makes a difference for my community. a broadly based supported effort for $45 million t revitalize the -- our community with a portland streetcar. something that's going on

1:04:46 to 1:05:06( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: across the country. people look at this as an opportunity to rebuild and renew, create jobs, revitalize the community. it also contains important funding provisions for public broadcasting that allow our hometowns to continue to invest in quality, commercial-free, educational and cultural programming. it continues the investment in

1:05:07 to 1:05:28( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: renewable energy. and i would like to conclude by paying special tribute to the committee and especially chairwoman lowey for her success in raising the profile and investment in international clean water and sanit the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. blumenauer: can i have one minute. mr. mcgovern: 30 seconds.

1:05:29 to 1:05:45( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: mr. blumenauer: we came together in bipartisan legislation in 2005, the water for the poor act, but congress didn't put any money in it. there was less than $10 million for all of subsaharan africa. this year, $300 million to implement the water for the

1:05:46 to 1:06:07( Edit History Discussion )

poor act investment in africa. it means that thousands of lives will be saved and the united states will be regarded differently ar simple, common sense, should have been done years ago, is going to be done now and i appreciate the committee's hard work. the speaker pro tempore: the time of the gentleman has

1:06:08 to 1:06:28( Edit History Discussion )

expired. the gentleman from texas. mr. sessions: i, except for my close, am going to reserve my time. mr. mcgovern: i'm the last speaker on our side. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized for as much time as he consum. mr. sessions: thank you, mr. speaker. the bill we're talking about is, again, a large bill, $400

1:06:29 to 1:06:51( Edit History Discussion )

Pete Sessions: billion worth of spending, very few committee markups, committee hearings. we heard they could not negotiate with the president because they didn't want to make tough decisions to fit within a box, a package that i think is bess for the american people. $400 billion worth of spending.

1:06:35 to 1:07:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Pete Sessions

1:06:52 to 1:07:00( Edit History Discussion )

Pete Sessions: borrowed money is difficult for the united states, and it's my hope that sometime during this process that my friends, the democrats, are going through,

1:07:01 to 1:07:21( Edit History Discussion )

James P. McGovern: that they will recognize that the borrowing money is a sad way to run the business. the speaker pro tempore: the time of the gentleman has expired. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: mr. speaker, how much time do i have remaing? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman has four minutes remaining. mr. mcgovern: mr. speaker, let

1:07:05 to 1:09:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: James P. McGovern

1:07:22 to 1:07:43( Edit History Discussion )

James P. McGovern: me begin by thanking chairman obey and members of the appropriations comttee on both sides of the aisle and their staff for their tireless efforts in trying to put together a bill that will help the american people. i urge my colleagues to support the underlying bill. this is, as i said earlier, a completion of last year's work. unfortunately, the white house refused to negotiate with the

1:07:44 to 1:08:05( Edit History Discussion )

James P. McGovern: congress. they showed an incredible amount of disrespect and indifference to what congressional leaders of both parties had to say. and it was their way or the highway. and so here we a we're trng to wrap up last year's work in a way that will help the american people. my colleague from texas talks about, you know, that we should have a freeze on all spending.

1:08:06 to 1:08:27( Edit History Discussion )

James P. McGovern: well, given this committee, that kind of olook would put -- that kind of policy would leave a lot of people in the cold. it will take some government investment to get us out of this ditch that we're in. and no matter how you want to look at it, no matter how -- the graphs and charts are all the same that these last years this administration's policies,

1:08:28 to 1:08:48( Edit History Discussion )

James P. McGovern: with the help of a lot of my friends on the other side of the aisle when they were in charge of congress, drove this economy in the ditch and we need to get out of the ditch. mr. speaker, i should also tell this rule will prevent members of congress from receiving a pay raise and they have an opportunity to vote up or down on this vote. a vote against this rule and i would say a vote against the

1:08:49 to 1:09:06( Edit History Discussion )

James P. McGovern: bill is a vote for the congressional pay raise. so if you have said publicly that you oppose the congressional pay raise, at you would vote an increase in your salary if you could, well, here's your chance. if you vote no on the rule and you vote no on the underlying bill, then you are voting increase your pay.

1:09:07 to 1:09:27( Edit History Discussion )

i think during these difficult economic times that's the least this congress can do. and i would urge a yes the the rule. i yield back the balance of my time, and i move the previous question on the resolution. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on ordering the previous question. all those in favor say aye. all those opposed, no. the ayes have it. mr. sessions: mr. speake. speaker. mr. speaker, i request the yeas